Vietnamese classifier quả usage (piece/unit/fruit)
quả is commonly used for fruits and also for round objects like balls.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
quả is commonly used for fruits and also for round objects like balls.
English meanings
- piece
- unit
- fruit
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Tôi ăn một quả táo.
I ate an apple.
2
Có hai quả bóng trong sân.
There are two balls in the yard.
How to use it
quả is a high-frequency classifier often used with fruit names, and also with round or spherical objects such as bóng (ball) or trứng (egg).
- Commonly used for fruits.
- Also used for balls, eggs, and other round objects.
- In northern Vietnamese, trái is also commonly used for fruits.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English uses 'a' or 'an' without classifiers; for fruits, we say 'an apple' but Vietnamese uses quả as a classifier instead of cái.
Common mistakes
một cái táo
một quả táo
For fruits like apples, quả is used.
hai con bóng
hai quả bóng
Balls do not use con as a classifier.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses quả?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses quả?
- Tôi ăn một quả táo.
- một cái táo
- hai con bóng
Answer: Tôi ăn một quả táo.
Explanation: Commonly used for fruits.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ăn một ____ táo.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ăn một ____ táo.
Answer: Tôi ăn một quả táo.
Explanation: Commonly used for fruits.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I ate an apple." into Vietnamese.
Show answer
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I ate an apple." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Tôi ăn một quả táo.
Explanation: Use quả in the same structure as the example.
True or false
quả can replace all classifiers like the English 'a' or 'an'.
Show answer
True or false
quả can replace all classifiers like the English 'a' or 'an'.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vietnamese cái is very common, and many nouns have more natural or precise classifiers.
Correction
Correct this sentence: một cái táo
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: một cái táo
Answer: một quả táo
Explanation: For fruits like apples, quả is used.